Tag spyware

Working Nets

July 17, 2014

Malware and spyware are a big problem in a world that relies so heavily on technology. Many businesses have the option for buying items online or use some type of server whenever you shop with a credit card. Those who shop with Target or eBay learned about that the hard way in the past year when both companies were breached by hackers. 15 million new malware strains were discovered in the first quarter of 2014 alone. Protecting yourself from malware and spyware has never been more important than it is right now, especially for small businesses. Luckily, we have the answer.

How Does Outsourcing IT Help Protect You?

Let’s start with some figures. The good news is that America is not in the top 10 countries for being the most-malware infected. The bad news is that we’re not in the bottom 10, either. Many computers still get infected with common types of malware, such as Trojans, worms, and viruses. One of the best ways for small businesses to avoid dealing with these problems on company computers is to get anti-virus software and enable firewalls. These are only as good as their updates, though. If users aren’t on top of anti-virus updates and know exactly what types of malware and viruses are prevalent at the time, there’s not much they can do to protect themselves. It’s a lot of work to keep up with all of the malware and spyware on the Internet today. Outsource IT companies make it their business to know what’s going on and how to prevent problems. When you outsource your IT, your network becomes safer and so does all of the information on it.

How Can I Protect My Company from Malware?

There are a few things that you can do to help. The first and most important thing is to learn about what malware is and what it does. The more you know, the better you can fight it. Educate your employees on what is and isn’t safe on the Internet. By outsourcing your IT, you can also block certain sites from employee computers in order to decrease the likelihood of visiting sites that have malware. Doing so will help with computer safety and security as well as productivity. The main thing to take away is to find out everything you can about malware and talk to someone about outsourcing your computer security to a company that exists to protect your company!

Welcome to Working Nets – your virtual IT Department!

At Working Nets, we know that the idea of having your computer hacked is a scary one. Nobody wants to think that their information is out there for everyone to see. Call us today to find out more about anti-virus and anti-spyware software as well as outsourcing your IT. You can reach us at (443) 992-7394 or visit WorkingNets.com today for more information!

Working Nets

July 10, 2014

You’ve heard of malware and spyware by now, and you likely have a good idea of how to protect your computer from malicious programs that can take information right off of your computer and share it with hackers. This week we’re talking about a specific type of malware, and a pretty vicious one at that. The creators of ransomware of not only hack your computer, but they’ve also developed a sneaky way to get money from you (you know, or your credit card number). In order to get control of your computer back, you have to pay them a ransom of $300. Sound pretty awful? It is. It’s also almost impossible to stop.

The most recent and powerful piece of ransomware is brought to us by Cryptolocker. Basically what this does is use a “botnet” (network of hijacked computers) to spread viruses to multiple computers. The FBI did try to shut Cryptolocker down, but their methods weren’t exactly flawless or foolproof. They seized Cryptolocker’s servers and replaced them with FBI servers. The problem is that the actual ransomware is still around. It just needs to be updated. Hackers are smart enough to figure out a way to start distributing the malware again. All they have to do is switch their method of delivery. While this may be a minor setback, it’s not going to be enough to actually stop them entirely. It’s just a bump in the road, especially when you consider that the people behind Cryptolocker have already managed to collect 4 million dollars in the span of nine months. It’s a dangerous “get rich quick” scheme that’s spawning a malware trend amongst hackers everywhere.

The problem isn’t just affecting Americans, but is a worldwide problem that is only growing. The moral of the story is to take precautions. Once ransomware is on your computer, you’re not going to be able to get it off without either paying the fine or losing the entirety of your files. And we really don’t suggest paying these criminals. Protect yourself.

Only open email from reputable sources and never click links that take you to outside pages unless you trust the site and have done some research.

Make sure that your firewall is up and running. It’s also advisable to have anti-malware and anti-spyware programs installed on your computer.

Do not click on pop ups and be careful about who you let use your computer. Make sure it’s someone you trust and someone who knows the precautions as well as you do.

Internet safety is important for avoiding being a victim of ransomware. Call us today to find out more about anti-virus and anti-spyware software as well as outsourcing your IT. You can reach us at (443) 992-7394 or visit WorkingNets.com today for more information!

Working Nets

July 3, 2014

Computers house the most important information for your business. Technology has taken over the business world entirely; people rarely have paper copies of anything anymore. One of the scariest things imaginable for a company is being hacked or getting a virus that causes you to lose all of the data on your computer. Spyware actually allows hackers to see what information is on your computer. Think of all the different files you have – financial statements, documents that have sensitive meeting information on them, private client information, and more. If you find yourself hacked or lose all of your important information, it could seriously set your company back. The following tips will help you avoid spyware and viruses.

Anti-virus and anti-spyware protection – There are many software companies that offer virus and spyware protection for your computer. You should always do your research on the software that you choose to make sure that it’s going to offer comprehensive protection. It’s also important to check for software updates so that you know your computer is continuously protected.

Use Internet common sense – The Internet was first introduced to the public in 1991, meaning we’ve had the opportunity to work with it and learn about it for almost 23 years now. Those who have been using the Internet for that length of time have a decent idea of what causes viruses and spyware to show up on their computers: clicking on suspicious links and popups number one among them. Make sure that you trust the source for any link that you click on.

Check every day – You should have you protection run a scan for viruses and spyware every day. The sooner you discover a problem with your computer, the less likely you are to sustain permanent damage to the hard drive. Shut down a problem as soon as it comes up. Knowing about something is the first step to taking care of the problem.

Outsource your IT – Outsourcing your IT gives you a group of computer savvy people at your fingertips. They can give you all the tips and tricks you need for keeping your computer safe from spyware and viruses while making sure that your system is entirely up to date. Hiring a company to take care of your IT needs can actually save you money and worry.

At Working Nets, we know that the idea of having your computer hacked is a scary one. Nobody wants to think that their information is out there for everyone to see. Call us today to find out more about anti-virus and anti-spyware software as well as outsourcing your IT. You can reach us at (443) 992-7394 or visit WorkingNets.com today for more information!

Working Nets

April 2, 2014

Spyware is a prevalent problem for computer users today. With spyware, those behind it can gather sensitive data from your computer, change your computer settings, and peddle advertising to you without your permission. Occasionally, spyware can be an incredibly malicious piece of software that works its way into the depths of your computer and steals information. It tends to be very difficult to remove and can do things such as changing your homepage and invading your settings so that it’s not possible for you to change them back. Eventually, certain types of spyware can cause your computer to crash altogether. It’s important that you know how to protect your computer from spyware programs. We have some tips on how to avoid being a victim of spyware.

Install anti-Spyware software – As your first line of defense, this is a good one. Make sure that the software that you choose is trustworthy and will keep your computer safe from harm. The ideal anti-spyware would actually be anti-malware so that it can detect any kind of harmful program that comes into contact with your computer.

Use caution on the internet – The internet is full of viruses and programs looking to destroy your computer and gain information from you. Be careful to avoid clicking on links that take you to unknown sources. If something looks untrustworthy, it probably is. You should also avoid clicking on pop up ads, since they will frequently take you to places with malware.

Keep up with system updates – The more up to date your computer is, the better the chances that its equipped to deal with problems like spyware and malware. One way to make sure your computer stays up to date is to subscribe to automatic updates. Whenever a new update is released for your operating system, your computer will automatically install it.

Enable your firewall – Firewalls are meant to take down predatory programs. If your firewall settings are correct, spyware and malware will have a hard time getting through to your computer.

Your computer and information will be the safest if you’re prepared for anything. Make sure to take the above steps to avoid a spyware or malware invasion. It’s a fascinating digital world out there, and it’s important to know how to navigate it safely. If you have any questions regarding malware or spyware, please contact Working Nets by calling (443) 992-7394 or visit WorkingNets.com today!

Spyware is difficult to remove because it was designed that way. Some changes spyware makes to your computer is changing your search engine or adding additional components to your toolbar that you don’t want or need.

There are a few simple steps you could do to keep spyware off of your computer.

The best way to keep spyware off of your computer is with an antivirus program and by keeping your antivirus program up to date. You also need to read the terms and conditions carefully when installing a product, file, or service from the internet.

Spyware can drastically slow down your computer and make it more difficult to use. The best way to protect yourself is to be prepared.

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Welcome to Working Nets – your virtual IT Department in Baltimore!

At Working Nets in Baltimore, we support your business by providing top-notch Information Technology (I.T.) services to companies like yours: Companies that don’t need full-time I.T. services, but do need someone to turn to, when they are having a problem. We provide services like Network Design, Monitoring and Maintenance. We troubleshoot technical issues when they arise, and give you options for solving them. We help you use your technology investment to achieve your business goals.

Working Nets

March 5, 2014

Viruses and spyware are probably the worst things that could infect your computer. Not only will they slow down your machine, but they will cause great security threats to your personal data. So how can you keep your data safe and protect your computer?

Fortunately there are a few easy ways:

Install an antivirus program – an antivirus program needs to be kept up to date to do its job well. There are a variety of options available that vary on price and amount of coverage. It is best to do some research about each antivirus program to identify which one is right for you.

Be mindful of which emails you open – if you do not recognize the email sender, it may be a scam or include a harmful attachment. If you’re not familiar with the sender of the email, don’t open it. Potentially it can be dangerous and cause a lot of harm to your computer system.

Use a pop–up blocker- pop-ups are smaller browser windows that can appear on any website you are using. While many are advertisements, others can contain malicious software designed to give you a virus. A popup blocker can prevent this type of window from appearing.

Keep your software system updated – companies such as Apple and Windows periodically send out security updates. It is important to keep your computer updated to protect it from the latest security threats.

Clear your browsing history – when you’re using a public computer, consider clearing the browser history when you are done. This will protect you from leaving any personal information behind.

Welcome to Working Nets – your virtual IT Department in Baltimore!

At Working Nets in Baltimore, we support your business by providing top-notch Information Technology (I.T.) services to companies like yours: Companies that don’t need full-time I.T. services, but do need someone to turn to, when they are having a problem. We provide services like Network Design, Monitoring and Maintenance. We troubleshoot technical issues when they arise, and give you options for solving them. We help you use your technology investment to achieve your business goals.

Working Nets

August 23, 2013

Some people do not like change; they become so accustomed to a certain way of doing things. This is not only in regards to a daily routine, or a habit that needs breaking, but a certain type of software as well. Many Microsoft users still have Windows XP installed on their computers (whether it is a home or office computer), not because it is the best operating system, or even the easiest to use. But because people get comfortable with what is familiar. However this may pose an issue in the next year.

Apparently, hackers are storing information that exploits vulnerabilities in Windows XP and will unleash them when Microsoft stops supporting the Windows XP operating system next year.

What Does This Mean for Windows XP Users?

If you are a Windows XP user worried about the safety of your computer and documents in the future you are now left with two options.

Accept the change and upgrade to Windows 7 or Windows 8. Both of these operating systems come with a slew of new features and upgrades that you will probably love once you adapt to change.

Pay Microsoft the high premium they are charging to have them continue to support Windows XP so you don’t have to adapt to a new operating system. However this won’t save you. No matter how many future vulnerabilities are discovered, Microsoft will no longer be updating Windows XP. The hackers know this and will begin taking over machines that run Windows XP en masse.

This is not a small problem. There are millions of people still running XP on business machines with critical information on them, or on home machines with all the credit card accounts listed in a file somewhere. These could all become compromised.

Disaster Recovery Services from Working Nets in Baltimore, Maryland

At Working Nets, wewere founded to provide small businesses, like yours, with expert information technology support they needed.Ourdisaster recovery services helpensureyour vital business data is kept safe and secure!

According to the latest Microsoft Security Intelligence Report (volume 13), the average number of infected Windows 7 SP1 machines has increased in 2012 by 23% on 32-bit systems and 7% on 64-bit systems, compared to the last quarter of 2011. Meanwhile, the average number of malware-infected Windows XP SP3 PCs has increased by around 10%.

According to the report: “A similar trend of slowly increasing infection rates was observed for Windows Vista between 2007 and 2009, prior to the release of Windows 7.” But why? Well, as more and more people adopt software, security suffers. Early adopters are often well versed in cybersecurity techniques. However, the general populous is not.

“As the Windows 7 install base has grown, new users are likely to possess a lower degree of security awareness than the early adopters and be less aware of safe online practices,” according to the Microsoft security report.

Quick Security Tips from Working Nets

Avoid questionable behavior. If you engage in questionable behaviors; if you don’t have SOME healthy skepticism about clicking on links to who-knows-where; if you download “drivers” or “players” willy-nilly, so that you can see that “new video”, and especially if you don’t have some form of anti-virus software, you’re going to get hurt.

Trying to avoid paying for software by downloading license key generator, also known as Keygen, software to allow you to install a full-version of whatever software you’re talking about is not only illegal, it constitutes “questionable behavior.” Remember what we just talked about. There is plenty of free software, and if the software you want to use isn’t free, and is that important to you, it’s probably worth paying for. It’s usually cheaper than having to have viruses uninstalled, and is certainly cheaper than having financial credentials stolen.

If you have any questions about Cybersecurity, please contact Working Nets by calling (443) 992-7394 or visit WorkingNets.com today!

Virus/Spyware Protection Services: Viruses and spyware are time-consuming and costly. The virus protection we offer is top-notch and consistently updated. Our monitoring software ensures your business is safe.

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Your Virtual I.T. Department

Technology plays a major role in every business, but where do you turn when your computers, network and security systems need an upgrade to accommodate growth. What do you do when one of these systems fails?
At Working Nets, we provide top-notch information technology services to companies who don’t require an IT department, but do need reliable assistance when challenges arise.
Working Nets offers services like network design, monitoring and maintenance. We troubleshoot technical issues and provide you with options for solving them.
Our goal is to help you get the most out of the technology investment you’ve made.
I.T. Without the Ego
At Working Nets, we realize that technology can be overwhelming and sometimes a little confusing.
We believe business people should focus on their business, not on the tools that make it run.
That’s why we educate our clients and explain what services we’ll be performing to their computers and networks. This way, they gain an understanding of the technologies that improve their performance.
When you’re comfortable with your tools, you use them better, and your business becomes more profitable.
We look forward to working with you and your business! Contact us today at (443) 992-7394.